Marc Mccarty

Marc is not only the only glass blower in Jersey but in the Channel Islands as a whole. He works from, and runs a small studio, at Devil’s Hole, opposite the Priory Inn where you can go and visit him to watch him make his beautiful hand-blown vessels, sculptures, and lighting. He’s been blowing glass for several decades (we’ve done the maths!) and having watched it ourselves we can tell you it’s a sight to behold!

Tell us what it is that you do?

Essentially, I form beautiful objects, by gathering liquid glass on a metal tube. I then add air by blowing down the tube to inflate the glass. I then use a variety of shaping techniques to form the glass into the desired shape. But quite often, it’s the undesired shape that wins! Which is what makes it so cool!

How did you learn to be a glass blower?

I studied Hot Glass Manipulation and Sculpture at Wolverhamp ton University back in 2003, leaving with a BA (Hons) degree. I then won a scholarship to go Seattle’s Pilchuck Glass school in the USA where I continued my studies. The rest of my skills have been self-taught learning curve of pure trial and error.

What is it you love most about your craft?

I love it when I show people hot glass for the first time, there eyes shine with the wonderment of hot liquid glass. They almost can’t believe it’s possible, like a magical thing is happening before them as the molten glass turns from a hot molten drop into something simply wonderful to behold. It reminds me that the things I do, are very old and magical.

Do you take commissions?

Yes, I take on jobs for customers and am happy to work with them to see what we can create. I can make sets of drinking vessels and tableware. I design and make lighting. I have also made sculptural work for many different environments, and I also make memorial glass with ashes from the cremato rium, and this has to be commissioned. This is a particularly special thing to be involved in, helping people to hold their loved ones close to them, captured in glass.

Have you ever made something you can’t part with?

There is a special place in my heart for every single object I have ever made, but parting with it is a massive part of the design cycle. Making customers truly happy with their new object of desire brings me great joy and it pays the gas bills.

Can people come and watch you working?

My studio is based up at Devil’s Hole, right next to the pub, and is open to the public. I get many visitors throughout the year, which is fantastic. Just recently I had a visitor travel from Scotland to see me and commission a special piece. The best thing to do is keep an eye on my social media channels as I often post on there when I’m planning to blow.

Where can people find your products?

My work is for sale at my studio/shop in St Marys opposite the Priory Inn at the Devil’s Hole. It is also available at the new Harbour Gallery at Commercial buildings and Harriet and Rose on King Street. Or you can buy from my Facebook or Instagram @ (Glassblowing Jersey) and please do get in touch if you’ve got a commission that you’d like to talk about, or just come down to the studio

Our Genuine Articles are drawn from the ranks of Genuine Jersey, the organisation that supports local producers who create products on the island. Learn more about the organisation and how you could become a member and get featured here in future at www.genuinejersey.com

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